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Double irony

In past weeks we have had the US supreme court and others attacking the system that has held so many captive without a real trial an yet still the Bush administration continues to hold them. At the same time the UK are releasing people known to be trouble. 

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | Man 'linked to Bin Laden' freed.

In the rush to get even after 911 it is a pity no one really though through what real justice would look like. And they even thought they might call the plan to invade Afghanistan and deal with al Quaeda "Operation Infinite Justice".

Obama Courting Evangelicals Once Loyal to Bush

The NYT today has the latest in a series of stories of how Barack Obama is reaching out to evangelicals in the US.

Obama Courting Evangelicals Once Loyal to Bush 

It starts with the story of Susan Speakman, a pastor and educator in an activist evangelical church southwest of Pittsburgh:

... Along with her 23-year-old son, Stephen, she supports Mr. Obama because of his stands on the Iraq war and matters of social justice. The two of them plan to spread the word in their community and beyond. "What caught my attention early on was his comment that we don't want red states and blue states, but we want to find reconciliation and rapprochement with folks," said Mrs. Speakman, who changed her party affiliation to Democratic from Republican this year to vote for Mr. Obama in the Pennsylvania primary. "I really object to the other approach — divide and conquer, isolate and demonize the opposition. I try to engage the other side and try to find ways we can bring the values of the kingdom of God into the experience of humanity."

While Obama clearly does not represent some of the major policy areas that for the past 20 years have been identified with the Christian Right, he is not dismissive of them either, but rather seeks to help Christians understand he feels he cannot impose his views in a pluralist system. His meeting with a range of Christian leaders three weeks ago ( Obama's Play for the Faithful - TIME ) was noted for its amicable atmosphere and the values that Susan Speakman notes in the NYT article.

That of course has not helped him in the eyes of James Dobson who last week launched a full frontal attack on him, but Obama seems to have come back from that one (Is Dobson's Obama Hit Backfiring? - TIME ) and even Bush loyalist Methodist pastor Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell (who in May officiated at Jenna Bush's wedding) has helped launch a site claiming that James Dobson Doesn't Speak For Me.

It's not going to win a good proportion of evangelicals, but the values that convinced Mrs Speakman get my support too (though as a Brit of course I don't count).

'The Hebrew Republic' by Bernard Avishai - Review

A book by Bernard Avishai proposes an egalitarian democracy for Israel, unencumbered by Jewish privileges.

Book Review - 'The Hebrew Republic,' by Bernard Avishai - Review - NYTimes.com

Noting that:

It is almost impossible for non-Jews to buy land owned by the state or the Jewish National Fund. There is no secular marriage in Israel. Orthodox rabbis control the process of conversion, deciding who is a Jew and thus, often, who is a citizen. Mixed couples cannot be buried together in a state-funded Jewish cemetery. Even more absurd, Israel is probably the only country in the world that does not recognize its own nationality. Israelis cannot be inscribed as Israelis in the state population register, but must be recorded according to their religious or ethnic origin. Every request by Israelis — Jewish and Arab — to be listed simply as Israeli has so far been rejected. The government argues that this would undermine the principle of Israel as a Jewish state.

the author apprently argues that the answer:

.....is not to tinker with symbols but to develop a national consciousness and identity based not on religion, but simply on being Israeli — to remove all privileges accorded to Jews and make Israel a modern, egalitarian democracy. If all Israeli citizens were simply Israelis, rather than Jews, Muslims or Christians, there would be no “demographic threat” to the state’s continuation. At the same time, this new Israel would demand a civic loyalty from its Arab population, who, if they did not serve in the army, would at least perform some kind of national service. This new identity would be predicated not on religion, but on a shared Hebrew language; culture, economic and business ties; and simply living on the same strip of land.

As a Christian whe seeks to find undeerstanding in the Biblical account, that is the picture I have of a Israel's future - a future portrayed in the book of the prophet Isaiah (25.1-4) where God speaks of a future for all peoples. Not the best known Christian future vision of the Holy City I know but it seems to resonate more with all I believe than the exclusivist zionist one.   

Winning Hong Kong hearts

In an article a cuple of days ago in the Asia Times Online the trend among young Hong Kong Chinese (emphasise ethicity) to call themselves Chinese Hong Kong Citizens (emphasise nationality) or even Chinese nationals has grown this year.   

The latest survey shows that a majority of Hong Kong residents of Chinese origin now are happy to identify themselves as "Chinese nationals" or "Chinese Hong Kong citizens", as a result of rising nationalism boosted by the Beijing Summer Olympic Games and the relief effort following the Sichuan earthquake which killed tens of thousands

The actual figures cited in the poll are:

38.6% of the respondents identified themselves as Chinese citizens, against a mere 18.6% in 1997.

The percentage of respondents who now identify themselves as Chinese citizens or Chinese Hong Kong citizens in the latest poll is 58%.

I am not suprised. My frequent contact with students (late teems and young twenties) these past years has identified them as lacking the deep-rooted fear of their parents or even those  or even the thirty somethings. The first had their teenage years in the ten years leading up and were impacted by the insecurity of that period; the latter still had to learn trust.  As the article notes: "It has been said that while Beijing had taken back the land, it had yet to win back the hearts of Hong Kong's people."

Well there is nothing like a party or a disaster to win hearts and both have seemingly done their job widening the net.

The article goes on to express concern voiced in a recent Hong Kong Journalists Association report at the implications for free speech of risin nationalism. I recognise it is a potential. But I am not convinced it helps to seek to scare HK citizens way from embrace of China?    Lets rather engage more positively with China and indeed those who are newly discovering their identity as citizens of this great nation.

The Gaza Cease-Fire and Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance

Non violence goes against every gut instinct. Yet it has been a powerful tool to chage nations. Think Gandhi. Think Martin Luther King.

The Gaza Cease-Fire and Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance (by Philip Rizk)  and read the link on the non violence movement.

Peace Between Lebanon and Israel?

Link: Peace Between Lebanon and Israel? - The Middle East Blog - TIME.

The authors assessment - no chance, bcause  it depends on these things:

1) There has to be a solution to the Palestinian problem.

2) There has to be peace between Israel and Syria.

3) Peace talks with Lebanon and Israel have to include Hizballah.

He sees no awareness in Israel of any of these being necessary.

Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama

Many Muslim Americans who have supported Barack Obama’s candidacy say he has not returned the embrace.

Link: Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama - NYTimes.com.

In a democracy, the majority of people vote from their hearts, thir gut instinct, and their vote speaks of their sense of identity, of belonging and attempts to reinforce that identity. The popular US vote is no exception.

Obama can have all the good will in the world for peace and change in US policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. Yet the image of a veiled woman in a victory shot, of him speaking in a mosque is not going to sit well in the hearts of the majority in a nation that is still replaying 911 when it closes its eyes. Engaging with Muslims may be important to him, but however important they are to him the votes of a few million (the number is not known; estimates are between 1 million and 6 million) are nothing compared to the Christian and jewish lobby, who of all people are most chalenged by any deep engagement with the Muslim community.

So he is appearing to ignore them. I would suggest the position of integrity, and which is now for him a proven strategy, would be to embrace the Muslim community, and then in the face if the mass opposition and scaremongering in the media, to give us another speech like he did on race. After all, his muslim culture cannot be denied any more than his African culture; its part in forming his identity any less than the role of Rev Wright in forming his Black Christian identity.  We have to learn to look beneath the surface. And to deeply challenge the stereotypes of the masses who hold the keys of a democratic government.

I doubt it would win him the vote; but it would sure be a good thing to do.

The Mind of a Female Suicide Bomber

Like the interview with Hamas' leader yesterday, we need to hear this story. This is not an Islamist, but a young woman, in pain, open to being radicalised because of her emotional pain and despair. Before we point the finger at Islam, we need to ask what our part is in this story.   

The Mind of a Female Suicide Bomber - TIME.

Interview with Khalid Mish'al of Hamas

A fascinating opportunity for each of us to begin engage with Hamas.

Link: Third Way Magazine - Right is might Right is might.

Khalid Mish'al is widely regarded as the most senior figure in Hamas, the Islamist resistance movement that two years ago won a landslide victory in the Palestinian general election. Third Way found him at home in Damascus. ....

There is much one could pick out, and I am struck by the strong call to the homeland. I understand.  However I choose two short quotes in regard to his view of Christians.

Q.  Many Christians in the West are afraid of Islam. Can you tell me honestly what you think of Christianity?

A.  My answer is not a diplomatic answer: it comes from my heart and from my mind. Many people in the West do an injustice to Islam and make false accusations against it, because they misunderstand it or because they see some Muslims behaving badly and they generalise, or because they want to justify aggression, as George [W.] Bush did.

Look today, who is occupying whose lands? The Zionists are occupying Palestine. Should I conclude that Judaism is an aggressive religion? Judaism is a religion revealed by God - we believe in Moses. It is not Judaism that is to blame, but those who claim to adhere to it and wrongfully occupy other people's land in its name.

Who is occupying Iraq and Afghanistan? America. Would it be right for me to conclude that Christianity is an aggressive religion? We believe in Christ. A Muslim is not a full believer unless he believes in Moses, Jesus and Muhammad and all the prophets. We respect all revealed religions. The problem lies with those who adhere to - some of those who adhere to - Christianity and in its name, as George Bush does, attack others.

We are not afraid of Judaism or Christianity as religions. We are - I wouldn't say 'afraid', but we are opposed to all who commit aggression, whether it is under the banner of religion or under a secular banner.

The second relates his willingness to live alongside Christians, but also Jews. 

Q. Can you foresee a day when Muslims, Jews and Christians will live together in harmony between the Jordan and the sea? What will have to happen to make it possible?

A. That was the case in the past, and it can be so again in the future. What matters is that occupation and aggression come to an end, and the Zionist ambitions on which the Zionist movement was based. If a Muslim comes to attack me and oppress me and take away my home and my rights, I will fight him, and the same applies to Christians and Jews. We do not resist Israelis because they are Jewish, we fight them because they are occupiers.

He doesn't hate Christians. He doesn't hate Jews. He will accept a Palestinian State within the borders of 1967, but would remain unable to recognise Israel. He would accept a state with Muslims, Christians and Jews living alongside each other. 

Words or reality? No one knows unless you try.

know one asian, know all asians?

Eugene Cho is a provoactive -- and right on -- thinker on race from a truly Christian view. His latest post on the subject, and the links it contains, is challenging:

know one asian, know all asians?

This is not the perspective of a Korean or Asian American; it is human voice speaking with divine authority against injustice.

His church, Quest in Seattle, is "an urban, multigenerational, and multiethnic church in Seattle striving to be an incarnational presence in a postmodern and postchurch culture," "the expression of a vision and dream of a church where truth is sought, mystery acknowledged, compassion and justice embodied, culture and arts engaged, creativity and innovation fostered, diversity and multiethnicity embraced, authenticity and community pursued, and sharing the love of Christ is the great cause."

Check out the page on Quest's annual Faith and Race class, the video made by one recent class, and the links.   And especially read one of the online resources: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. Deeply challenging.

This is what being a church that lives out the truth that God breaks dividing walls is about.